Chapter Two: Deliver Me From Madness

Written by the talented Aideen-san!

As soon as she closed her eyes, everything came back to haunt her. Even in her dreams she wasn't allowed to forget. No, she just couldn't forget...

The blood...

The stiff body of her Mamo-chan...

Those strange voices...

Usagi knew it was a dream, but that didn't stop the scene from going on. She was a puppet being forced to play along. Why couldn't she have dreams about sheep?

"Because I don't want you to, fraulin."

The scene changed as Usagi whirled around to face her assailant. In the stark black and white background, she was alone.

"Not alone, fraulin." An accented voice whispered in her ear as hands rested lightly on her hips. "I'm just here to make sure you know that you won't make it out alive..."

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Quick reflexes didn't stop the small fist from connecting with his jaw. Ken fell back as the girl lashed violently in her sleep. Not wanting to cause her more harm he grabbed at her frantically waving arms, as gently as he could, but not before she knocked a lamp off the nightstand.

"Mamo-chan..."She called out, her eyes opening. Ken was a bit startled when a hand slipped free of his grasp, and she began to caress his face. It was then, he noticed her eyes. Glazed over and unblinking. "You're okay...it was all a bad...dream...."

"Miss, I'm n-"Ken was cut off as her lips covered his, for a fleeting moment.

"Ken-kun!!!"

Ken jerked away as Omi's voiced echoed soundly through Yohji's room. The girl slumped back on to the bed once again asleep. "I-I ...She did it!"

"How could you take advantage of Usagi-san like that?!" Omi accused. "She's already been through enough."

"Omi-kun I didn't do anything." Ken replied, "She thought I was Mamo-chan? I don't even know who that is?!"

"Her husband." Yohji answered from the door way. His voice sounded funny, but neither Omi or Ken noticed.

"Oh crap." Ken sat down at the farthest corner of the bad. All he had wanted was some answers from this Usagi person, but life could never be that simple, could it?

"He's dead."

"Oh." For a few moments silence reigned in the small room, expect for the gentle snoring of Usagi. Apparently no more nightmares were haunting her sleep.

With nothing else to say, the guys waited each lost in their own thoughts about Usagi. Soon the sound of footfalls moved closer, a familiar red head popped in. "Mission, Weiss..." Manx's words trailed off as her sharp green eyes noticed the slumbering blonde. "Care to explain?" Her attention was on Yohji, connecting him to the girl.

"Why not ask Ken-kun?" Yohji drawled as he leaned against the wall, "He might kiss and tell." Ken flushed and was about to respond when Omi cut in.

"Manx-san we were about to call you about her." Omi explained

"Hmm..." Manx walked up to the bed, assessing the girl's injuries. Better safe than sorry, she reached into her jacket's pocket and pulled out her cell phone. Propping the phone between her shoulder and ear, she quickly handed out the mission folders to the guys. The call was short and precise. With a decisive snap, she faced them, "A physician will be arriving shortly. What shall we discuss the mission first or the girl? From the looks of it, she'll be asleep a bit longer."

"Demo," Omi spoke up, "one of us should stay with her just in case."

Manx smiled warmly at the younger boy. "Very well Aya-san was briefed, while we were coming up. He'll play watch guard. "

"Why don't I stay behind?" Yohji offered, not wanting to leave Usagi with Aya. Who knew what the man would do. "Wouldn't want our fearless leader to miss out on anything."

"I wouldn't trust you with my goldfish, much less that girl, Kudou."

"Jealous?" Yohji teased, half-heartedly as Manx walked out. There really was no way to get into that woman's good graces even if he gained sainthood. Did he really look like a man who would harm a woman? He was a lady's man, not some asshole who got their kicks hurting others. Glancing back at Usagi, he felt a strange stirring in his chest. Usagi looked so small and delicate, she caused these protective feelings to arise in him. Not even with Asuka did he feel that way...

"Kudou."

Taking his eyes away from the sleeping Usagi, Yohji came face to face with Aya. Whether it showed on his face or not, the older man knew that Aya was not pleased. Well, bully for him. As he stepped out of his room, Yohji turned to the resident red head. "Try not to scare her with your glares if she wakes up. She's not one of your fangirls who enjoys being yelled at."

No response, as predicted, but Yohji didn't doubt that Aya missed his hidden meaning: Upset the blonde, deal with him and his wire.

Usagi shifted uncomfortably careful to keep her breathing even as though she was asleep. She didn't want to cause anymore trouble for Yohji, after he helped her. Easier said then done with the pain making itself known once again. She hadn't felt pain like this in years, it was impossible to with the Ginzuishou at her beck and call. Why was it reacting like this?

As the pain slowly subsided, her early actions came to mind. She had kissed a complete stranger, who's name she didn't know until afterwards. Her husband hadn't even been dead for a day, and she was kissing a stranger. What kind of person was she? It didn't matter that at the time Usagi had truly thought that it was her Mamo-chan before her and sought comfort. She had kissed another man, and she just couldn't face up to it. That was all that mattered. Usagi hoped that she hadn't harmed Ken in any way...

She was awake. That much was obvious, Aya was sure of it. Well that only made his job of getting answers simpler. "Who are you?"

No response. He wasn't expecting any right away, but the smallest of movements did catch his eye. Fine, let her find out the hard way that Aya Fujimiya didn't like to play games.

Closing the distance, Aya grabbed her wrist, swiftly pulling Usagi up into a sitting position. Startled sapphire eyes looked into icy cold violet eyes, "Who are you?"

Usagi wasn't stupid enoughto believe, he was asking a question, more than he was demanding one. She had a feeling that this guy didn't ask questions. He didn't need to with his no nonsense attitude. "Usagi Chiba. Nice to meet you."

Aya was a bit taken aback at her greeting, and didn't have time to answer when a friendly sounding voice from the living room called out. "Hello? anyone here? Manx?"

The physician had very good timing, Usagi decided as she watched Aya leave the room to fetch the doctor. She hoped that he brought pain killers.

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Rei Hino couldn't remember a time when Takatori-sama had called the girls and her into his office. Usually he sent a messenger with the job that had to be done down to her floor. She and her conscious prefered it that way.

"Psst!" Minako Aino whispered besides her, "Rei-chan!" The blonde frowned when her friend continued to ignore her. Smiling at the young business man who stepped out of the elevator, Minako discreetly elbowed Rei.

"Oompf! What?!" Rei hissed, tempted to smack the bubbly blonde.

"Why are we meeting with Takatori?" Minako questioned, smile still in place.

"I didn't ask." Rei replied as they got off on their floor. "But try to kept your mouth and let Ami, Makoto and I do the talking."

"I love you too, Rei-chan"

"Hmph." Walking down the hall, with Minako chattering on about her date last week. At the entrance leading into Reiji Takatori's office, awaited Ami Mizuno and Makoto Kino. Both appearing as though they had just dropped everything and come running.

"Do you guys know anything about this meeting?"

"Iie." Ami answered adjusting her lab coat.

Makoto brushed back a lock of hair. "We were hoping that you guys would know something,"

"You may go in, now ladies." The secretary said from her desk.

Inside Reiji Takatori sat in his leather chair flanked by four men. His personal bodyguards. Minako smiled flirtatiously at the one with the wild orange hair and the green bandanna while the girls and her took a seat. "Takatori-sama." Rei said respectfully.

"Rei-chan." Rei struggled to keep a straight face at the condescending tone he used. As always he spoke to her as though she was a child. But he needed her team and her father's vote for the upcoming election. So he'll put up with her and she with him. "I was speaking with your father . He told me that you girls knew someone by the name of Mamoru Chiba?"

"We did know him." Ami answered truthfully, "but we haven't had any contact in the last three years."

"How about his lovely wife?"

"Usagi." Minako said softly. That one name carried a wealth of emotion for all four girls.

"We haven't spoken with her either." Rei replied stoically, "What does that have to do with anything?"

"At the moment that is not important," Reiji told her. "Please tell me your progress within the last month. I take it that it's all good."

"Yes Takatori-sama." The girls intoned together.

The meeting was short. Due to the obvious disinterest their employer hold for their jobs. As the girls filed out the portly man turned to his bodyguards. "Well?"

"They don't know nothing." Schuldich announced, "Though, there is some misguided sense of duty for the girl."

Pushing up in his glasses, Crawford stepped in. "Mr. Takatori, do not worry. We'll make sure those four know their place and do not interfere with your plans."

"Make sure that you don't." Takatori replied coolly, "As for that girl, Usagi. Make sure she's out of the picture...soon."